Beaufort set about trying to prepare for Lancaster's invasion of England; whilst Clifford was gathering funds to build an army to cross the channel, Somerset was planning to strike somewhere more immediate. England's footholds upon the continent were Calais and Aquitaine, and, with any luck, he'd damage the cursed Yorkists and their allies both at home and abroad. The first step was opening a dialogue: written messages to both the Count of Albret and the leading Flems of Bruges, in Burgundy.
Count of Albret:
My Lord of Albret,
I hope this letter finds your lordship well. Edward of Lancaster, King of England and Duke of Aquitaine sends his regards to thee, from his court in Bar-le-Duc. York has abandoned Guyenne, and allow their prize won in war to fester without good governance. My King offers you the position of the King's lieutenant in Aquitaine with the authority to rule in his name from Bordeaux, to rectify this issue. Throwing off the shackles of York would be necessary in such an endeavour, but the true King of England will soon return to his rightful throne, and you shall find yourself justly rewarded for your valiant efforts.
Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset,
On behalf of Edward of Lancaster, King of England, France, Ireland, Jerusalem and Naples, Duke of Aquitaine.
Bruges
To messires of Bruges,
Edward of Lancaster sends his greetings and commiserations; his majesty knows that you are ruled by a witch of York, our great enemy's young sister, who has disregarded the will of the Burgundian estates and continues to rule in her son's name. Doubtless you chafe under the rule of a woman, and as such my King wishes to aid you in breaking these shackles. King Edward is gathering an army and will be able to guarantee his support upon the battlefield should you attempt to expel the Burgundian Duchess and her attempts to encroach upon your God given rights and liberties.
May God keep you,
Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset.
On behalf of Edward of Lancaster, King of England, France, Ireland, Jerusalem and Naples, Duke of Aquitaine.
I thank his Royal Highness Edward of Lancaster and send him my regards and wishes. The encirclement of my lands in Guyenne by the English is a concern of mine, and the offer of governing these lands on behalf is a true honor. However, under the current circumstances there would be difficulties in fulfilling these promises. If his Royal Highness were to grant me the lands south of the Lordship of Albret, around the towns of Bayonne and Dax, and making the position of Lieutenant of Aquitaine a hereditary office for me and my descendants, I am quite certain that he would alleviate any doubts from my mind about this endeavor.
Signed,
Alain of Albret, 16th Lord of Albret, 2nd Count of Tartas, Count of Dreux, Count of Castres, Viscount of Limoges and Viscount of Turenne
Burgundy
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
To the Lord of Somerset,
We give thanks to his Highness Edward of Lancaster and wish him the best of health. There are those in Burgundy who are dissatisfied with the direct control she exerts through her regency, despite her successes in stabilizing the country after the tragic death of Duke Charles, and defending our territories against the Spider. To expel the Dowager Duchess could mean an end to the alliance with the current powers in England. Is Edward of Lancaster able to support Burgundian independence from France, just as King Edward of York has? His noble parents, may God show them mercy, sought aid from the French Crown before to reclaim the English throne.
My King is willing to support you with a force of men recruited to fight in his name. Raise your banner against the Duchess, and the rightful King of England will come and lend his support to thee. Already, we march.
OOC: Flemish uprising roll: base chance 10/20
-2 from historical leadership skills of Margaret of York
+2 from dissatisfaction of local lords with a foreign duchess serving as regent
-3 from past French support for Lancaster
+1 from promise of immediate support from Lancaster with armed forces
Total chance roll: 8/20
Rolled a 4.
The Flemish lords answer, declining Beaufort's offer of support. The Duchess Dowager is popular and has a lot of support, they explain, and the opposition to her rule is not organized enough to try any such coup attempt.
Lancastrian Correspondence
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